Wrench



S. M- KATHCART.

WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 21. 1920.

Patented Nov. 22 1921.

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SAMUEL M. KATI-ICART, OF LEADW'OOD, MISSOURI, ASSIG-NOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM H. COOPER, OF LEADWOOD, MISSOURI.

WRENCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 22, 1921.

Application filed October 21, 1920. Serial No. 118,383.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that SAMUEL M. KATHCART, a citizen of the United States, residing at Leadwood, in the county of St Francois and State of Missouri, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wrenches, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawin s.

lhis invention relates to wrenches and particularly to a quick adjustable wrench.

An object of the invention is to provide a wrench of this character including a stationary and a movable jaw member, one end of the movable jaw member providing a jaw so as to thereby eliminate projections and strengthen the wrench.

Another object is to provide a wrench of this character including a stationary and movable jaw member, the stationary jaw having a housing in which the movable jaw member is slidably mounted, the housing and jaw of the stationary member limiting movement of the movable jaw member.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wrench of this character including a stationary shank having a jaw on one end and a housing on the opposite end in alinement with the jaw, and a movable jaw slidable in the housing and having an enlarge ment disposed in alinement with the housing and the stationary jaw, said movable jaw being capable of disengagement from the housing when extended obliquely thereof by the removal of the locking means of the wrench.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the improved construction and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more particularly described, fully claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a side elevation of a wrench constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the manner of disassembling the wrench, the locking lever and guide being removed,

Fig. 3 is a side elevation and sectional view of the stationary shank and jaw showingathe interior of the housing, and

ig. 4 is a rear elevation.

Referring to the drawings, 5 designates a stationary shank having a stationary jaw 6 projecting from one end right angular relation to the shank, one surface of the jaw being provided with teeth '7. The opposite end of the shank is bifurcated to provide arms 8, the end of said. bifurcated end being provided with divergent canted surfacesQ and 9*. parts of the wrench to be separated. Formed integral with the bifurcated portion 8, is a housing 10, the sides of the housing merging with thearms 8. In view of this, the housing is open at its side 11 through the medium of the bifurcated portion and at its ends 12. Formed in each of the sides 13 of the housing is an elongated slot 14, which register with each other. In view of this novel construction, the only portion which connects the sides of the housing and the arms 8, is the side 15 of the housing and the canted portions 9 and 9*.

A movable shank 1,6 is slidably disposed within the housing 10 and is movable through the ends 12 thereof. The end portion 17 of the movable jaw includes an enlargement lSproviding a stop shoulder 19 adapted to engage the inner end 12 of the housing to limit movement of the movable shank in one direction. The end of the enlargement or shank is provided with teeth 20 andserves as a movable jaw. By this novel construction, the jaw does not project from the side of the shank 16 but is formed on one end of the shank so that it is disposed at all times in alinement with the jaw 6 and the housing 10, the jaw 6 limiting movement of the shank in one direction. The enlargement 18, lies flush with the side 21 of the shank so as to permit the shank to slide freely on the stationary shank 5. The side .21 is provided with a plurality of teeth 22 and a stop member 23.

A locking lever 24 is employed to lock the movable shank 16 in its adjusted positions. This lever is provided with an enlargement 25, and has its end 26 canted. A plurality of teeth 27 are formed in one side of the enlargement 25, while an opening 28 is formed adj acent the canted end 26 and is adapted to receive a detachable pivot pin 28 which is also disposed in the slots 14:. The teeth 27 of the lever are arranged for interlocking engagement with the teeth 22 of the movableshank to hold the shank in its locked position. An important feature of the slots 14 is that they permit the wrench These canted portions permit the to be adjusted after the jaws are engaged with an object. This would not be possible if pivot openings instead of the slots were employed as the canted end ofthe lever Would contact With the teeth 27, and prevent the lever from being positioned parallel to the movable shank 16. The slots 14 permit the lever 2 1 to move freely in the adjustment of the Wrench. To properly position the enlargement 18 on the shank 5, a U-shaped guide member 29 is provided, and has its ends detachably pivoted to jthe'enlargement .18, and is adapted to embrace the shank 5 to guide the movable shank and bear a portion of the burden which would ordinarily be transmitted to the pivot pin 28 and the, housing 10.

In the adjustment of the Wrench, as previously stated, the jaws may be applied to the object and the lever then adjusted in view of the slots 1 or thejaivs may be adjusted before being applied to the work. This is accomplished by moving the lever 24 away from the shank 16 and sliding the shank to the desired position. The lever is then moved toward and intoparallel rela-tion With the shank '16 so as to permit the teeth 22 and 27 vto interlock, thereby lock the Wrench in its adjusted position. In view of the fact that the jaw of the shank 16 isdisposedat all times in alinement with the housing 10' and jaw 6 it is impossible to disengage the jaw from the Wrench as long as it is in this position; However v if repairs are necessary the movable shank 16 can be readily disengaged from the stationary shank, by removing the guide member canted 29, and the pivot pin 28. This permits the lever 22% to be disengaged from the housing 10, whereupon the shank 16 may be disposed obliquely oi the shank 5 in view of the portions and readily removed from the housing 10. I

From the foregoing it Will be readilyseen thatthis invention provides a novel form oi Wrench capable of being adjusted quickly and accurately. It is impossible for the movable jaw to slip from its adjusted position, as the shank and housing 10 do not form part' of the handle, thehandle being formed by the cooperation of the end or. the shank 16 with the lever 24. in addition to these features, it is composed of a few simpleparts which can be readily assembled and disassembled.

What I claim is I A Wrench comprising a stationary shank,

a jaw projecting from one side of theshank,

a housing formed on the opposite end of the shank 1nalinei'nent with the aw, the ends and one side ot said housing being open, a

movable handle having an enlarged end poi:

tion, the extremity said end portion form' 'ing a jaw, said handle being slidable through the housing, one end of the housing" limiting movement of the handle in one direction, a guide memberpwotd to said en largedend portion and embracing the stationaryshank, and a locking lever pivoted m the open side of bhG housing and arranged for interlocking engagement With the handle.

In testimony signature;

SAlYIUEL 'M. KATHCART;

Whereoi I hereunto my 

